A drive-through's success is measured by the length of its queue, but a queue that spills onto the street causes congestion and accidents, puts the project under the eye of the municipality and traffic police, and may force the owner into costly changes after opening. The same applies to fuel stations, which bring customer cars, tanker trucks and ancillary shops together on one site. The procedural guide lists cases where a study is required even for small projects, including a project on a congested main corridor. This guide explains the design principles for drive-throughs and fuel stations, how to calculate the queue, common mistakes, and when you need a traffic study.
Drive-Through Design Principles
- Enough on-site queue length to hold cars at the peak without reaching the street.
- Separating the queue lane from the site entrance and customer parking.
- A safe exit with enough sight distance.
- An escape lane for anyone who wants to leave the queue.
- No crossing between the queue and pedestrian walkways.
Fuel Stations
- Separate entrance and exit in the direction of traffic.
- Waiting space in front of the pumps.
- An independent route for the tanker truck.
- Separating ancillary shops and their parking from the fuelling route.
- Enough distance from intersections and neighbouring entrances. Read: Entrance location and its effect on project success.
Table: The Problem and Its Design Cause
| Problem after opening | Likely design cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Queue spilling onto the street | Queue length not calculated for the peak | Lengthening the lane or adding a service window |
| Conflict with customer parking | Queue lane not separated | An independent lane with barriers or markings |
| Accidents at the exit | Insufficient sight distance | Relocating the exit |
| Site blocked during tank refilling | No independent route for the truck | A dedicated route and bay for the truck |
| Danger to pedestrians | Queue crossing walkways | Safe walkways outside the queue lane |
Calculating the Queue
Peak-hour demand and the service rate are estimated, and the required queue length follows from them. On busy sites, traffic simulation helps to verify it. Read: Traffic simulation and Peak hours.
Also read: Access requirements and Parking requirements by activity.
When Do You Need a Traffic Study?
It depends on the volume of generated trips and the project's location; projects on congested corridors may be asked for a study even if they are small. Read: When do you need a traffic study?.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a drive-through need a traffic study?
It depends on trip volume and location; the guide requires a study on congested corridors even below the 500-trip threshold.
What is the most common mistake?
A short queue that spills onto the street at the peak hour.
Can a drive-through be added to an existing restaurant?
It depends on the site area and whether enough queue length and a safe exit can be provided, and it needs a regulatory amendment.
Does a fuel station need special safety requirements?
Yes; in addition to traffic requirements, there are safety and fire protection requirements. Read: Safety system design and review service.
When should I design the queue?
At the preliminary site design stage, before fixing the building's position.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office that designs on-site circulation for drive-throughs and fuel stations, calculates queue length for the peak, sets safe entrances and exits, and prepares the traffic study when needed. See our access points design service, or contact us.
Regulatory information is based on the Balady platform and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and procedures may be updated by the competent authority. Last reviewed: October 2026.